‘Selma’ star says diversity in UK Arts is now worse
David Oyelowo, star of civil rights movement film ‘Selma’, says that diversity in UK Arts is now worse than ever with many young BAME stars emigrating to the USA to start their careers. “The real problem is about who is curating the stories that we portray and what their point of view is. I believe that we go to the movies to see ourselves on screen, but the reality is that we see younger, better-looking versions of the people curating culture. Personally, I felt pushed out of the UK, because of my head hitting the glass ceiling, despite being given genuine opportunities like the chance to study at LAMDA”.
Mr Oyelowo was speaking at the launch of the Creative Industries Federation Diversity report. Published in partnership with the MOBO organisation, the report states that just 11% of the creative workforce in key economic sectors is drawn from Britain’s minorities, when it really should be much higher, nearer 17.8%.
The report argues that while diversity has been long seen as a matter of social justice, there is a hard-headed business case for tackling the failure to capitalise on the full range of talent available to ensure that the creative industries remain the fastest-growing part of the UK economy. It provides a compendium of best practice by forward-looking organisations and businesses that have already acted to improve the diversity of their staff and includes case studies to show how everyone can make a difference.
In an ironic twist David Oyelowo ended by saying that he is now offered more exciting roles in the UK as a result of his reputation gained in the USA. “I don’t want young actors to feel that you have to go to the USA to make a name for yourself. We need to work to change to the faces and genders of those curating culture to better reflect the communities that they serve”. With 32 per cent of all creative jobs in London, where 40 per cent of the workforce is BAME, the report calculates a much higher 17.8 per cent of the creative industries workforce should be BAME. The UK ethnic population is also predicted to grow to nearly 33% per cent by 2050.
For further information visit www.creativeindustriesfederation.com
BAME - Black Asian Minority Ethnic,
LAMDA - London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
